"That night, Maya Reed slogged through the pounding rain to the club where Cole Hale liked to hang out.

She paused outside his private room, wrung out her hair, and decided she'd wait until he wrapped up and then surprise him.

A teasing voice drifted through the cracked door. ""Cole, your wedding to Maya is in a week. Got your big surprise ready?""

""Yeah,"" Cole said in a cool voice warmed by liquor. ""I'm going to give her something she'll remember for the rest of her life.""

Maya's hand stilled in her hair. She couldn't help but smile.

For three years, Cole had cherished her like she was the most precious thing in his life.

Just then, another man laughed. ""If Maya finds out I've been pretending to be you this whole time, she'll lose her mind.""

""Please."" Someone else snorted. ""As if she'd ever guess Cole has a twin!""

""She always acts so high and mighty. Just wait until she finds out she's been sleeping with Cole's brother for three years. I want a front row seat for that reaction!""

Hearing the cruel laughter, Maya froze as her blood ran cold.

She couldn't believe what she'd heard. She edged closer and peered through the crack.

Cole sat on one end of the couch. Beside him lounged his mirror image, down to the haircut and the tiny mole at the corner of his eye.

Carter Hale let out a derisive laugh and lounged lazily against the couch. ""She crossed Valerie, and Valerie is the one Cole loves most. This is what she gets! Watching her fall from cloud nine right into hell will make it all worth it!""

The same guys who used to butter Maya up whenever she showed up were now sneering at her.

""Carter, you did the heavy lifting!""

""If I looked like you two, I'd volunteer for that too!""

""Right? She's gorgeous. If she goes crazy after the wedding, why not let us have a taste?""

""Cole plotted this whole thing for Valerie and never once touched Maya in these three years. What a faithful man!""

Cole Hale, Carter Hale, and Valerie Cross...

The names whirled in her head until Maya could barely breathe.

Her body shook uncontrollably, tears spilling from widened and bloodshot eyes.

The love she'd staked her future on was a con—a trap laid to please Valerie, the woman who used to bully her.

On those nights she woke up shaking from nightmares of Valerie tormenting her, it was Cole who held her and told her she was safe.

When she finally told him what she had been through, he soothed her and arranged for her to see a therapist.

She couldn't believe it, nor did she want to believe it.

The moments when she felt loved were so vivid. How could they be fake?

The conversation inside the suite carried on.

""Valerie's flying back next week. Cole, you can stop living on planes every weekend.""

""I've been acting for three years. Now, I can finally drop the act,"" Carter said with a smirk. ""Every time Cole went abroad, I had to keep Maya company.""

""You two sound different. Didn't she ever notice?""

Carter laughed. ""She isn't bright. I lowered my voice and told her I had chronic laryngitis. She bought it and even got up at dawn to make me honey tea.""

The suite erupted into laughter.

""Enough,"" Cole cut in. ""After the wedding, I'll write her a check. She'll be set for life.""

""Are you going soft?"" Someone needled him.

Maya's chest tightened. She held her breath and stared at Cole.

He gave a scornful laugh. ""Not a chance!""

""What about you, Carter? After sleeping with her for three years, don't you feel anything?""

Carter quickly shook his head. ""I'm over it. If you want a go, be my guest.""

Cole sneered. ""Hard pass. She's dirty.

""She begged for this wedding. The money is just to keep her from clinging to me. We're on a tight timeline, so get it set.

""A week from now, I'll propose to Valerie right after I drop the truth bomb on Maya!""

Chapter 2

Maya had no idea how she got out of the club.

The rain came down in sheets and hammered at her skin, yet she felt none of it. Only the conversation from that room kept looping in her head.

Just hearing Valerie's name made her whole body tremble. She couldn't understand why Valerie still refused to let her go when she had moved overseas. She seemed bent on grinding her into the dirt.

It had started with something as petty as a campus beauty contest. Someone posted a candid shot of Maya without makeup, and it ended up outshining Valerie's retouched entry.

When Valerie got wind of it, she and her friends cornered Maya in the restroom, ganged up on her, and shoved her head into a toilet.

When Maya wouldn't kneel and apologize, the next three years became a living hell.

They hit her, jabbed her with needles, and hid tacks in her shoes. They turned the entire class against her, tanked her part-time gigs, and spread filthy rumors.

Valerie even sent rich guys to pursue Maya, plotting to bait her with money and then toss her aside.

However, Valerie's scheme failed. By the time junior year came and Valerie left to study overseas, Maya was still unbroken.

But by then, she was drowning in depression and had started hurting herself.

That was when Cole appeared.

He was nothing like the other rich guys who sized her up like a trophy and tried to buy her off with credit cards.

His gaze was warm and sincere, and he actually listened to her.

When he learned that her grandmother, Belinda Malone, needed long-term medication, he didn't look down on her. Instead, he helped in quiet, thoughtful ways that she could accept.

He found her internships and part-time jobs. He always sat with her at a convenience store after her shift, splitting a quick dinner and giving her a light tap on the head. ""Maya, that was tough. You did great.""

When Belinda fell ill while Maya was out of town, Cole rushed her to the hospital and stayed by her bedside for a whole day and night.

By the time Maya hurried back, Cole was dead on his feet, yet he still smiled. ""Belinda's stable. Don't run yourself into the ground.""

Her heart kept saying, ""He's the one. Try to trust him. No matter how it ends, cherish the time you have with him now.""

For a long while, Cole treated Maya with care, even standing up to his family to be with her.

Just then, Carter's scornful voice echoed in her mind. ""How dumb could she be? Did she really think the Hales would let a nobody marry in? We just hired a couple of actors, staged a little fight, and she fell for it.""

""She's so dumb. She missed every tell for three years.""

""She's so dumb. She still thinks Cole is devoted to her.""

""She's so dumb. So dumb. So dumb...""

Maya stumbled and crashed to the ground, her tears mixing with the cold rain.

""Maya, you really are too dumb,"" she said to herself.

She suddenly tipped her head back and laughed like a madwoman, letting the rain smack her face mercilessly.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Belinda's caregiver.

""Maya, come quick! Your grandma's not going to hold on!""

By the time she reached the hospital, the doctor had already delivered the news. ""She's in respiratory failure. There's nothing more we can do. Stay with her for whatever time she has left.""

Maya dropped to her knees and clutched Belinda's hand.

Belinda forced a weak smile. ""Maya, don't cry... I'm sorry... I couldn't hold on for your wedding...""

Maya shook her head hard. She couldn't get a word out and broke down in sobs.

Belinda's eyes searched the room. ""Where's Cole? I want to see him...""

""Okay,"" Maya rasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

She pulled out her phone and called Cole over and over.

He declined every call, so she texted instead.

""Cole, Grandma's in respiratory failure. She's at the end. Please come to the hospital. She wants to see you one last time.""

""Cole, Grandma's waiting for you. Just a minute is enough. Can you come?""

""Cole, I'm begging you...""

Her fingers trembled as she typed, tears spilling down her cheeks and splattering onto the screen.

At this moment, none of the lies mattered. If Cole would just come so Belinda could go in peace, nothing else mattered.

However, Cole never showed.

Maya forced a smile and squeezed Belinda's hand. ""Grandma, Cole must be tied up. Don't worry. We're solid, and we're getting married next week.

""Grandma, I'm going to be happy... You can rest easy...""

Belinda suddenly gripped her hand tighter and locked eyes with her. ""Maya... Live your life... Be happy...""

Her grip loosened, and her last look was filled with worry.

Maya stared blankly at her hand. Then, she crumpled to the floor, sobbing until no tears were left.

That night, she numbly went through every form and signature to arrange the funeral, yet there was still no word from Cole.

During a lull, she unblocked Valerie and opened her feed.

""I planned to fly home early and surprise him, but it turned out I was the one who got surprised!""

The photo showed Cole at the airport in a mascot suit, bouquet in hand, and sweat plastering his hair as he smiled.

Another shot captured Valerie's sweet smile while Cole's eyes lingered on her, full of devotion.

Maya let out a bitter laugh and locked her screen.

By noon the next day, she came back to the hospital with Belinda's urn and handed in her application to Doctors Without Borders.

Quinn White, the head of the department, looked at Maya in shock. ""Weren't you about to get married?""

Maya paused for a moment, then answered, ""Not anymore. I have to leave this city right away!""

Seeing her reddened eyes and hearing the urgency in her tone, Quinn didn't press further. ""You're just in time for the deadline. Take the next few days to prepare. We'll leave in a week.""

""Okay.""

A week later was supposed to be her wedding day. Instead, she would be wheels up.

Before she left, she planned to send Cole and Valerie a parting gift they would never forget.

Chapter 3

Since she would soon be heading somewhere dangerous, Maya decided to lay her grandmother to rest first.

She bought a small cremation pendant, tucked a lock of Belinda's hair inside with a pinch of ash, and buried the rest in a cemetery plot.

Kneeling at the headstone, she curled her fingers around the pendant at her chest. ""Grandma, don't worry,"" she whispered. ""I'm finally going to do what I've always wanted. I'll take care of myself.""

By the time Maya got back to the villa, dusk had settled. Laughter spilled from the living room the moment she stepped inside.

She froze, and in that instant, Cole spotted her.

He crossed the room, took her by the elbow, and steered her in. ""Come on and meet a couple of friends.""

A man and a woman stood from the couch and turned toward her, amusement flickering in their eyes. It was Valerie and Carter.

Maya's body trembled before she could stop it. It was a reflex she could never control around Valerie.

Cole's tone stayed easy. ""Valerie grew up with me, and Carter is my twin. They just got back from overseas and will be attending our wedding.""

Valerie raised a hand and gave Maya a sweet smile. ""We know each other. We were roommates in university.""

She slipped forward, hooked an arm through Maya's, and leaned in to murmur in her ear, ""Right, Maya?""

A reel of old scenes snapped to life behind Maya's eyes. Every time the bullying ended, Valerie would breathe the same line against her ear. ""It's just a joke between roommates, right, Maya?""

Maya flinched hard and shoved her away on instinct.

Valerie landed on the rug and looked up with wounded eyes. ""You still don't like me? I'm only trying to get along.""

Both men's expressions darkened. Cole rushed to pull Valerie up, his eyes turning cold.

Carter's brows pinched. ""Cole, your fiancee's got quite the temper. She's not even married to you yet, and she's already throwing her weight around?""

Cole stepped in front of Valerie and didn't bother to soften his tone. ""Maya, apologize!""

Maya stared at the three of them, her hands curling at her sides. The words she'd heard the night before ripped through her chest like a jagged tear. She turned without a word and headed for the door.

She barely made it two steps before a hand clamped around her wrist and yanked. She stumbled and looked up into Cole's furious eyes. ""Who told you to leave?""

Carter said with an edge to his voice, ""Our family has always cared about manners. Cole, maybe you should teach her some.""

""You're right,"" Cole replied with an icy gaze. ""Maya, you're about to marry into this family. Watch your mouth and your behavior. Take the rest of the night to think about what you did.""

He dragged her to the basement, shoved her into a room, and slammed the door before she could catch her breath.

No light seeped through the seams. Only then did Maya realize it was a windowless room.

The suffocating dark sent her breathing into a panic. She pounded both fists against the door and called out until her throat burned, but the hallway stayed silent.

Terror swallowed her whole.

Back in university, Valerie had locked her in a dark utility room for three days. Everything was silent and dark, time dragging on until it seemed to break apart.

She'd been shattered after that, and darkness had terrified her ever since. The claustrophobia never left.

For years, she slept with every lamp on.

At first, Cole struggled with it, turning and staying awake all night, but when he learned what she'd been through, he pulled her close and murmured, ""It's okay. We'll sleep with the lights on from now on. You don't have to be afraid.""

Whenever she offered to try turning them off, he would refuse. ""Maya, you don't have to force yourself. I can adjust.""

He knew. Both of them knew.

Yet, they chose to lock her in a dark room because she had pushed Valerie.

A dull ache throbbed in her chest. She slid to the corner, wrapped her arms around herself, and held on as the shaking took over.

The affection they showered her with had only been an act. They had staged every moment. Even this little dark room felt like it had been designed just for her.

Chapter 4

Two days later, Cole opened the basement door with a pleased smile. ""Valerie isn't upset about you shoving her that day anymore. Grab your things. We're going to try on dresses and look at rings.""

They drove to a bridal shop. The moment Maya stepped out of the car, she spotted Valerie and Carter already waiting inside.

Valerie hurried over, looking joyful. ""Maya, there you are. I didn't get to congratulate you last time. Cole and I grew up together, so let me help you pick the perfect dress!""

She looked at Maya, clearly hoping for a crack in her composure. Instead, Maya smiled and said, ""Thanks. I appreciate it.""

A flicker of irritation crossed Valerie's face before she turned it into another bright grin.

Looping an arm through Cole's and another through Carter's, she said pointedly, ""Then, I'll try some on with you. I'm going to be a bride soon, too.""

""Congratulations,"" Maya answered calmly.

The light in Valerie's eyes cooled.

From then on, whenever Maya paused over a gown, Valerie would snap her fingers for a staff member and claim it first.

Each time she stepped out of the fitting room, she caught Cole's hand and asked, ""Cole, what do you think? Am I pretty?""

Cole stared at her as if spellbound, showering her with praise, while Carter stayed close by Valerie's side. The two of them acted like Maya wasn't even there.

A staff member sighed under her breath. ""Some brides have all the luck.""

Valerie blinked in surprise, then turned to Maya, who stood off to the side like a bystander. ""Sorry, Maya. You're the bride. You should go first.""

She gave Cole a playful smack on the chest. ""Cole, what's with you? How could you leave your fiancee standing off to the side?""

Awkward silence spread among the staff.

Carter's mouth curled into a mocking smile.

Only then did Cole glance at Maya. ""See anything you like?""

Maya picked a dress at random and went to change.

When she came out, the three of them were gone.

A staff member offered her an apologetic look. ""Ms. Cross wanted to pick out rings, and they went with her. Do you want to...""

""I'm fine,"" Maya said. She changed back, returned the dress, and walked out.

Not long after, Valerie uploaded a shot of a diamond ring encrusted with gems. The caption said, ""Cole bought it for me at a sky-high price.""

Maya only glanced at it before locking her phone and going back to packing.

She set aside only clothes and essentials to take with her. Then, she cleared out her things, even the gifts she'd once given Cole, and stuffed them into a trash bag.

She didn't touch anything he had ever given her.

Just as she slid her suitcase into the closet, Cole walked in carrying a blue velvet box. ""I picked this up at the auction. It's your ring.""

Maya instantly recognized it as the same freebie from Valerie's post.

She took the box, set it on the dresser, and said nothing.

Her cold reaction made Cole's brows crease. His gaze drifted to the trash can and found the couple's mugs she used to treasure.

Unease flickered across his face. ""Why'd you throw those out? Are you mad?""

""No,"" Maya said, pressing her lips together.

""Is this because of what happened at the bridal shop?"" Cole pressed on, sounding certain. ""Valerie is just my friend. We haven't seen each other in years, so I paid her a little extra attention. That's all.""

He slid an arm around her. ""You don't need to be jealous. If there were anything between us, it would have happened long ago. You're my bride. You know where my heart is, right?""

The words yanked something sharp inside her chest. Her eyes felt hot.

Cole softened, ruffling her hair. ""I'm sorry, Maya. I shouldn't have let you feel sidelined.""

Her fingers trembled, then curled into fists until her nails dug into her palms.

For a heartbeat, she wanted to ask him about everything. She wanted to drag the truth into the light and force an answer about the last three years.

The questions rose to her tongue, and she swallowed them back down.

Just then, his phone rang. He quickly answered, ""Valerie, I'm on my way.""

When he hung up, he smoothed a hand over Maya's hair. ""I've got something to deal with. Get some rest. You'll be the most beautiful bride in a few days.""

He was out the door before the echo of his steps faded.

Maya sat on the edge of the bed and blinked hard, forcing the tears down.

Two hours later, she washed up and lay down, willing herself to sleep.

She was drifting when the doorknob turned.

Cole was supposed to be at a party with Valerie, but someone came in smelling of liquor.

Buttons snapped as he tore at his shirt, then he flipped back her covers and climbed in.

The instant his skin brushed hers, Maya snapped awake with the terrifying certainty that it was Carter above her.

Chapter 5

Maya went rigid, color draining from her face. She shoved Carter off with everything she had and scrambled to the headboard with her knees tucked tight.

Carter frowned at her and raised an eyebrow. ""Are you still mad?""

He rubbed his forehead. His voice was so similar to Cole's, only roughened by alcohol. If Maya hadn't overheard their scheme for Valerie, she wouldn't have known the difference.

Carter leaned in again, palms braced behind her, and their noses almost touching.

""I told you already. If I wanted her, I wouldn't be marrying you.""

Carter dipped in to kiss her.

Maya jerked aside, gagged hard, and turned away as her eyes stung red. She shoved past him and rushed for the bathroom.

He watched her head for the bathroom, a crease pinching his brow. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

Inside the bathroom, Maya slid down the tiled wall until she was a tight ball on the floor.

Suddenly, she heard Carter's voice outside. ""You hear that? She's dry heaving. Is she sick?""

A burst of chatter came through the open line. One of the guys said, ""Be careful, Carter. When the truth gets out, she'll cling to you.""

The words sent a chill down her spine, and a cold numbness crept into her fingers and toes.

Carter had left the call connected.

Valerie's voice followed. ""Cole, Carter, you two need to stop...""

""Stop?"" Cole's tone grew cold. ""She's gone after you for long enough. This is the least she deserves.""

""What if something's actually wrong with her?"" Valerie asked.

There was a beat of silence before both men said at once, ""No way!""

Cole's voice turned icier. ""If she's faking it, we'll handle it. Right, Carter?""

Carter's throat tightened. ""Yeah. Sure.""

For a second, he felt his heart clench with pain.

Just then, Maya opened the door, her face white as paper.

Carter quickly ended the call and stepped toward her. ""What's wrong, Maya? You look awful. Are you sick?""

She held his gaze and forced a thin smile. ""Nothing. My stomach's acting up.""

...

At noon the next day, Maya got a call from Cole. Moments later, he pulled up at the curb.

He got out of the car, opened the passenger door, and ushered her inside. ""Come on. Let's get lunch.""

They drove in silence while he kept an easy smile on his face. The playlist was Valerie's favorite back in university, which also happened to be the music Maya hated the most.

Valerie and Carter were already waiting at the restaurant.

Valerie gestured at a cake on the table. ""Maya, I crossed a line yesterday. I queued for this bakery's viral cake to make it up to you. You have to try it.""

Throughout the meal, Valerie kept bringing up their childhood memories.

""Cole and Carter have always spoiled me. When we played house, they fought over who got to be my groom!

""Once, I climbed a tree and couldn't get back down. Cole dropped to his hands and knees so I could jump onto him.

""I remember getting cornered by a few guys in middle school. Both of them got hurt standing up for me and ended up in the hospital for days.""

The brothers laughed along. The three of them chattered warmly while Maya stayed silent.

Valerie suddenly turned to her. ""Maya, why are you so quiet? Do you still have a problem with me? I know we had misunderstandings in university, but you're marrying Cole now. I hope we can be friends.""

She raised her glass and smiled over the rim at Maya.

Maya didn't reach for hers. She didn't even look up. Instead, she clutched at her blouse and drew a strained, ragged breath.

Angry hives had flared across her forearm in a vicious red bloom. She fumbled for her bag.

""You're having a reaction?"" Cole shot to his feet and reached for her bag.

Maya's peanut allergy was severe. Even though she was always careful with her food, she carried an adrenaline autoinjector at all times in case she needed seconds shaved off an emergency.

Maya had already closed her fingers around the adrenaline autoinjector.

Right then, Valerie's fragile voice rang out. ""Cole... I don't feel well...""

Her slim hand twisted in the fabric over her heart, and her face went chalk white, tipping backward in a swoon.

""Valerie!""

Carter lurched forward and caught Valerie before she hit the floor.

""Cole, she's reacting to something!"" he snapped, panic edging his voice.

Cole rushed toward Valerie, then stopped short as he remembered Maya had ordered the seafood soup.

His expression darkened. He spun on his heel and strode for Maya.

She had already hitched up her skirt and was pressing the adrenaline injector against her thigh.

Just then, a hard grip clamped on her wrist, and the autoinjector was torn from her hand.

Stunned, she looked up straight into Cole's cold eyes.

""You triggered Valerie's allergy! She needs this!""

He didn't hesitate. He strode toward Valerie and drove the injector into her thigh.

Feeling Maya's stare, Carter cut in coldly, ""Maya, you're a doctor. You know other ways to stabilize yourself, but Valerie doesn't. She needs the injection more.""

Cole finished the shot, scooped Valerie into his arms, and bolted for the door.

""I'll get the car,"" Carter said, sprinting after him.

Maya sagged to the floor, her bloodshot eyes locked on their retreating backs. None of them looked back, not even once.

As her vision blurred, she saw a waiter rush in and drop to one knee beside her. ""Ma'am, are you okay?""

…

Maya was out for a day. When she finally stirred, she saw Cole sitting at her bedside.

He took her hand and lowered his voice into a soft tone. ""Maya, you're awake. Are you hurting anywhere?""

She slipped her fingers from his and closed her eyes.

He wasn't angry and just smoothed a loose strand at her temple. ""I know you're angry. But my family does a lot of business with Valerie's. I couldn't let anything happen to her in front of us.

""I had no choice. You'll be my wife soon, and we're tied to the same interests. I need you to understand. You know I love you most, don't you?""

Right then, Carter appeared in the doorway. ""He really didn't have a choice, Maya. Big families have big complications. We all have to think about the bigger picture. As a family, I'm asking you to take the hit just this once.""

Under the blanket, Maya's hand curled into a fist. She stared at them, and a bitter laugh pressed at her throat.

They must have rehearsed this act in advance.

She refused to argue. ""I want to rest,"" she said, her eyes shutting again.

Only when their footsteps faded did she open her eyes. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. ""Hi, is this the streaming company? I'd like to schedule a broadcast...""

After the call, she instinctively reached for the pendant at her chest, but her fingers closed around nothing.

The pendant with her grandmother's hair and a pinch of ash was gone.

Her chest tightened in a panic. She ripped through the bedding, checked the rails, and was just about to call a nurse when her phone buzzed with a message.

It was a photo from Valerie. Maya's pendant dangled from Valerie's fingers.

""Come get it now, or I'll tip what's inside down the toilet.""

Fury flared in Maya's eyes. She pushed off the bed with quick and heavy breaths and strode toward Valerie's room.

Valerie stood at the window. The chain was looped over her fingertip, and the pendant was swaying just beyond the sill as if a breeze could send it tumbling.

""Valerie, give me my necklace back!""

Valerie wore a mean little smile. ""Maya, you saw my post, didn't you? I used to think you were above it all. Weren't you the one who wanted me gone back then? Now, look at you. To marry into the Hales, you'd swallow anything.""

Maya kept her eyes on the pendant, her nails biting into her palms. ""Give it back!""

Valerie edged the necklace farther past the sill. ""If you want it, get on your knees and admit you're a bitch who pretends to be pure.""

""No way!"" Maya shook with anger. ""Valerie, you're pushing it!""

Valerie laughed. ""Don't you get it? I've always been like this. I've always hated that stubborn streak of yours. If you had knelt the first time, I wouldn't have spent years making your life miserable.

""You saw where I stand with Cole and Carter. So, here's the deal. Kneel and beg me, and I'll hand over the necklace and even help you keep your footing with the Hales.""

""I'm not kneeling!"" Maya balled her fists and took a step, then another. ""You couldn't break me before, and you aren't going to break me now! I'll never bow to someone who treats people the way you do!""

""You!"" Valerie's smile grew colder. ""Fine. If you don't want it, then I'll toss it.""

She flicked her finger. The silver chain slipped and fell.

""Give it back!"" Maya lunged to catch it, but she was a heartbeat too late. The pendant tipped over the edge, falling from the high floor.

Maya's eyes burned so hot they felt close to bleeding. She spun to run for the stairs, but Valerie grabbed a fistful of her blouse and clung to it.

With a quaver that could have fooled a stranger, Valerie pleaded, ""I'm sorry, Maya. I'll stay away from Cole. Please don't push me.""

At the same time, a pair of furious shouts rang out from the doorway. ""Maya! What are you doing?""

A hand clamped around Maya's wrist hard enough to grind the bones.

The next second, she was flung aside. She hit the floor on her tailbone, pain exploding through her spine and cold sweat breaking across her skin.

Cole and Carter rushed to Valerie, scanning her up and down. ""Valerie, are you okay?""

Tears pooled and fell as Valerie bit her lip. ""It's my fault. I'm sorry. Cole, maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore...""

""Don't say that,"" Cole murmured, pulling her into his arms. ""I'm not letting anyone hurt you.""

He lifted his head, his anger blazing as he looked at Maya. ""It's been years, and you still can't let go of Valerie!""

Maya's face had gone chalk white, and her breath came unsteady. ""I didn't,"" she said, her voice shaking. ""She threw my necklace on purpose. I—""

""Enough!"" Cole cut her off, and his eyes were full of disappointment.

""Maya, you're still making excuses! Valerie has always been gentle and timid. She would never bully anyone. It's you! You got bullied, but you keep taking it out on her!""

Maya widened her eyes in disbelief. ""I didn't! She bullied me! It has always been her—""

The slap cracked across her cheek before she finished. Numbness spread across the right side of her face, and she tasted blood.

""You still won't learn!"" Cole snapped, fury and disgust twisting his features. ""You're already threatening to push her. If I let it slide, you'll cross an even darker line tomorrow!""

With that, Cole and Carter seized her by the wrists, one on each side, and hauled her toward the door.

""What are you doing?"" Panic rose hot and sudden. Maya struggled, but neither of them answered.

They just kept dragging her forward, fury strung taut through every muscle.

As she was pulled across the threshold, she glanced back one last time and met Valerie's malicious gaze.

Cole and Carter hauled Maya to a bungee platform built over a mountain cliff.

The drop was hundreds of feet, with nothing but rock and air beneath her shoes.

The moment her toes hit the grated deck, her face drained of color, and her knees knocked together.

Cole and Carter remained stone-faced. They took the safety rig from a staff and buckled it onto her themselves, then marched her to the edge.

Staring into the void, Maya went rigid. All she could hear was her own heartbeat, loud and ragged in her ears.

""Cole,"" she said in a shaky voice, ""you know I'm terrified of heights...""

""I know,"" Cole answered indifferently. ""You tried to shove Valerie. So, I'm going to let you feel what falling really is!

""Maya, this is a lesson. The woman who marries into our family can't be cruel. Change your attitude, and the wedding will go on.""

Carter pressed his lips into a hard line, his eyes unreadable. ""Don't panic. You aren't going to die.""

With that, they shoved her.

The bottom fell out of the world. Something locked tight in Maya's chest. For a few blank heartbeats, her heart didn't seem to work at all.

Fear hit so hard she couldn't even scream. Only a broken sound slipped out of her as the wind tore at her face and scattered her tears into nothing. Her gaze was hollow, carrying only despair.

When the cord snapped her upside down, the canyon spun into a gray blur. She dangled there over the cliff for what felt like forever.

After half an hour, when her breathing turned shallow and the edges of her vision went dark, the winch finally reeled her up.

She crumpled onto the deck and dragged in air, trying to fight the pins-and-needles sweeping her limbs.

Just then, a staff member stepped in. ""Ms. Reed, before Mr. Hale left, he said you had to complete ten jumps. Then, you can go.""

The words barely landed before they pushed her again.

Then came the third time, the fourth, and the fifth...

Each time, they left her hanging over the rock face for another half an hour.

The short breaks did nothing to clear the fog in her head. She was starting to black out.

By the time the tenth drop ended, night had swallowed the mountain. A single white floodlight glared down from the platform, keeping her consciousness dangling by a thread.

Only one staff member stayed behind. As he unfastened the harness and turned to go, he felt a tug at his pant leg.

""Please... Take me to a hospital..."" The plea was a whisper, like a candle guttering in a draft.

He shook his head. ""I'm sorry, Ms. Reed. Mr. Hale said that no one is to help you. This place belongs to his family. I can't risk my job.""

With that, he walked away.

The floodlight burned her eyes until they watered.

After a while, Maya rolled to her side, braced against the deck, and forced herself upright. She started down the mountain one shaky step at a time.

Halfway down, a group of hikers on their way home found her and took her back to the city.

She didn't go to the villa. She went straight to the hospital and, with a small flashlight in hand, combed the grass under the patient wing for her pendant.

Branches from the shrubs scraped her skin, while mosquitoes left welts across her arms and ankles. She acted as if none of it existed, searching inch by inch.

As the hours dragged on, panic clawed up her throat. Her eyes reddened, and tears threatened to spill.

""Hey! Who are you? What are you doing?"" a voice barked behind her.

A security guard strode over. With his help, she found the groundskeeper.

""There was a necklace,"" the groundskeeper said. ""I figured it was junk and tossed it.""

""Where did you toss it?"" Maya asked, her breath catching.

He shook his head. ""It's already been cleared and sent to the landfill. You won't find it now.""

The tears finally spilled. ""Which landfill? That pendant matters to me! I have to get it back!""

Maya spent an entire day at the landfill.

When she finally caught the thin silver chain, the tears she had been holding back all day finally streamed down.

But a second later, she realized the pendant was empty. The small lock of Belinda's hair and the tiny pinch of ash were gone.

A sharp ringing filled her ears as she clutched the necklace and dashed toward the hospital.

She arrived at the entrance right as Valerie stepped out holding her discharge papers.

Valerie pressed two fingers under her nose and took a theatrical step back. ""Which trash heap did you crawl out of?""

Maya stared straight at her. ""Where are the things inside my pendant?""

Valerie glanced at the necklace in Maya's hand and laughed. ""Oh, the filthy bits? I dumped them in a toilet and flushed it.""

""Valerie!"" Rage roared in Maya's ears, and her vision edged red.

She lunged, fisted Valerie's collar, and slapped her so hard she stumbled backward into Cole's arms.

Maya looked up and met Cole's gaze, which was cold and murderous. ""You really never learn, do you?""

Maya's voice trembled, her eyes bloodshot. ""She flushed my grandma's ashes down a toilet—""

""Enough!"" His expression darkened with disgust. ""To hurt Valerie, you would even curse your only grandmother. Maya, you make me sick!""

He caught her wrist in a hard grip and shoved her back.

The taxi came screaming up the drive. Brakes screeched, the horn wailed, and the bumper caught Maya, sending her crashing into the flower bed.

Pain shot through her ribs, and warm blood filled her mouth.

She raised her head on instinct and looked for Cole. He was there, but only to shield Valerie, hustling her into Carter's car.

Cole never once looked back.

The next second, everything went black.

Maya lay in a hospital bed for two days. Scrolling through Valerie's posts, Maya saw Cole take her to one gala after another, smiling under the flashes.

The wedding was days away. He couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore.

Meanwhile, Maya kept working on her plan for the ceremony.

The afternoon before the wedding, Cole came to sign her discharge. He brought her favorite flowers—a bouquet of lisianthus.

""I was too harsh the other day,"" he said. ""This is my apology. But stop going after Valerie. Tomorrow's our wedding, and I have a surprise for you.""

Maya studied him for a few seconds and then smiled. She took the bouquet from his hands. ""Perfect. I have a surprise for you, too.""

Something flickered across his face, then it vanished.

On the drive back to the villa, the sky opened and the rain came down in sheets. Thunder rolled across the city.

Cole's grip tightened on the wheel as he dialed Valerie's number again and again, but the line stayed unanswered.

He suddenly braked hard at the curb, grabbed the umbrella, and pushed it toward Maya. ""I have to deal with something. Grab a ride and go home.""

He unbuckled her and leaned across to pop the door.

Maya didn't take the umbrella. She looked at him once more, then stepped into the rain and closed the door without a word.

Cole hesitated, staring at the umbrella in his hand. Something complicated crossed his face.

He was about to open the door and pass her the umbrella when Valerie's name flashed on the screen.

Her voice came in shaky. ""Cole, I'm scared. Please come now...""

Hearing this, Cole drew his hand back from the handle and slammed down on the gas.

Maya stood there for a moment, the rain soaking her hair and blouse, and only then noticed that she had carried the bouquet out of the car.

She dropped it into a trash can. Then, she raised her hand for a cab and rode away.

When Maya got back to the villa, she received Cole's message. ""We're not supposed to see each other the night before the wedding, so I won't be home.""

Maya didn't reply.

The rain left her running a low fever. She drifted in and out, dreaming of Valerie and her friends shoving her down, their heels digging into her ribs.

Then, the dream shifted to Cole—cooking for her, watching movies together, and sharing their most intimate moments.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she slept, but when she opened her eyes, only coldness remained.

…

On the morning of the wedding, Maya carried her suitcase to the cemetery to visit her grandmother.

After that, she went straight to the hospital to meet her team before departure.

In the cab, she checked her group chat and confirmed every last detail of the plan for that wedding. Then, she opened a bookmarked livestream channel.

Onscreen, an influencer flashed a polished smile at her audience. ""Hey, everyone, welcome. Today, we have a special stream at the invitation of a bride. We're taking you to a wedding and going live from the venue...""

Maya watched the screen, a cold glint flickering in her eyes."